Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai appealed to world leaders to stop the war in Syria and to work for comprehensive peace through diplomatic means. “As the great powers are beating the drums of a new war against Syria, we regret the absence of a language of peace from the mouths of senior officials in our world…
A new Government natality initiative to increase birth rates to curb the increasing economic demands resulting from Ireland’s ageing population has been criticised as being ‘inconsistent’ with the removal of the Eighth Amendment, a pro-life group has said. The initiative, led by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, plans to look at ways of encouraging families…
Win: Proven Strategies for Success in Sport, Life, and Mental Health by Brent Pope and Jason Brennan (Hachette Ireland, €16) Peter Hegarty ‘What’s wrong friend?’ said the Samaritans volunteer at the other end of the line. Brent Pope poured out his sadness, describing how low, helpless and lonely he had been feeling. Since his childhood he…
Citing “alarming concerns” related to an ongoing investigation, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto has joined bishops from other dioceses across Canada in withholding funds from the overseas development agency of the Canadian bishops’ conference. At least eight dioceses have suspended financial support to Development and Peace following preliminary results of a probe that found some…
A pro-life group has begun a new online campaign called “12 weeks” to inform the electorate about the humanity of the unborn in preparation for the upcoming May referendum to remove the Eighth Amendment. Save the 8th will show social media users a video of a scan of an unborn baby at 12 weeks gestation…
Judging Redmond and Carson: comparative Irish lives by Alvin Jackson (Royal Irish Academy, €30) Felix M. Larkin This dual biography by one of Ireland’s most distinguished historians, Professor Alvin Jackson of Edinburgh University, is premised on the notion that – to quote its author – “the parallel lives of great rivals or great antagonists (or great friends)…
Dear Editor, For many years I was a member of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. I was shocked to read the article which said that the society will adopt no stance in the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, and will offer no advice to its members, regarding their decision on how to vote…
Fr Bernard Healy The Notebook I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Jerusalem this spring. Whilst there, I was able to visit a site sacred to our Jewish brethren, namely the Western (or Wailing) Wall. The Wall stands as a visible reminder of the destruction of the Jewish Temple by the…
Harmonious day planned for Birr For those in the family with an ear for harmonies, the Birr Festival of Music and Voice will be returning for its second edition this May Bank Holiday weekend after an extremely successful debut last year. Focusing on choral, classical, and chamber music, the festival features a variety of Irish…
The father of a 23-month old boy who has been at the centre of a life support battle privately met with the Pope today, pleading for “asylum” in Italy so that his ill son may receive alternative medical care, rather than be euthanised. Tom Evans and his partner, Kate James, are battling with Alder Hey…